Metallic screen



Jun@ 3., 1924, l M9659@ A. L.. OTTO METALLIC SCREEN Filed Jan. 21, 1924 2 sheets-sneu 1 INVENTOR:

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Patented dune 3, i924.

ARTHUR L. OTTO, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVIA. i

METALLIC l SCREEN.

Application led January 21, 1924. Serial E10. 667,513.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. Orro, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Metallic Screens, of which the fol- Aframe structure whereby extreme strength and rigidity is obtained; as well as novel means for replaceably securing metallic screening to the frame'. i

My invention relates particularly to -the class of screens having channel shaped frame members, in contradistinction to the class of screens employing solid and bulky frame members which are less desirable for structual, economic, as well as other reasons. l

lt has been customary heretofore in making metallic screen frames, to shape the frame members out of strips of bendable sheet metal; bendin the sheet metal back upon itself into varlous complex cross sectional shapes in an effort to obtain a rigid structure. vue to the very nature of the construction however, no screen frame of any considerable size could be'produced snii'iciently rigid without the use of some reinforcing means. -This was particularly noticeable in the case of the mitred corner joints, which heretofore have been soldered along the thin contacting edges of the sheet metal, and in addition to the soldered joint, have been braced in some manner. This construction however, gave results not entirely satisfactory, and vparticularly so in screen frames of large proportions in which case the screen was subject to distortions.

.Relevant to these prior screen structures I am aware of the Watson patents Numbers 836,475, 956,239 and 1,030,694, each one of which sets forth some form of a screen frame member, built u i of strips of sheet metal to form the desired shape, and including a tubular space within said shape. My invention however is clearly differentiated from this as well as other prior art, inasmuch, as my frame members are metallir, non-tubular, and substantially nonbendable; they are of simple, unitary form;

and to no construction or device of the prior art do l herein make claim.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, have shown in the accompanying drawings, forms thereof which are at present preferredby me, since the same will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists may be variously4 arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumenta-lities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a AView in elevation -of a sliding screen embodying my invention.

Figure 2, represents a section on line 2-2 of Figure l.

'.Figure 3, represents a perspective View of a fragment of the corner of a screen embodying my invention.

Figure 4', represents a sectional view of the frame member in the process of wiring.

Figure 5, represents a view in elevation of a hinged screen embodying my invention.

Figure 6, represents a vertical section on line 6 6, of Figure 5.

Figure 7, represents a horizontal section on line 7-7, of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings `My screen comprises a novel frame 1 of double channel shaped members, containing the guiding channels 2 on the outer edges of the frame and the screen retaining chan' nels 3 on the inner sides or edges of the frame. rl`he double channel frame members of my screen are of an integral piece of metal and substantially non-bendable, which adds greatly to the rigidity of the completed frame for any given Width of frame members. Due to the solid character and relative thickness of the walls of my frame members, I am enabled to unite the same into an integral frame by any of the known processes of uniting metals, such as, welding, brazing, fusing and the like thus making any other corner reinforcing ymeans, such as internal or external braces, clamps and the like, entirely superfluous; in so far as the intimate union of the frame member rovides a joint as strong as any part of t e frame members.` While I may use any of the known structurai metals or alloys in making my screen, prefer to use a metal or alloy of several metals, which will not be subject to the corrosive action of the elements and at the same time lend an architectural value to the finished product by the y natural color of the metal itself.

To the frame I secure thescreen cloth 4 in a novel manner, so as to afford ready means of attaching, as well as removing the screen cloth for the purpose of rewiring; and at the same time provide positive locking means for the said screen cloth. I accomplish this end by providing above the screen retaining channel 3, a continuous Vl tion; by rst pressing or rolling the overlapping edge into the screen retaining channel, then inserting the anchor rod or tube over the screen cloth, and inally forcing the edge of the anchor intothe locking notch; which operation not only secures the screen cloth to the frame, but draws it taut when the opposed side is already secured. In order to prevent the cutting of, or other injury to, the screen cloth, -along the inner edge ofthe screen cloth retaining channel, I round the said inner edge of thel screen cloth retaining channel, ina relatively large arc, as* shown at 15 in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7.

My triangular anchor rod possesses a de- .cided advantage, in so far as it provides a space 7 into which the loose edge of the screen cloth can be forced without tending to dislodge the anchor rod; which can be either of solid triangular cross-section, or in the shape of a triangular tube as illustrated in the drawings. In the first instance I avail myself of the elasticity of the walls of the screen retaining channel in forcing the edge of the Ianchor into the locking notch. The triangular tube designated by numeral 6 in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is preferred byme however, since it provides simpler mode of operation; namely :--the tube, of which one side is originally convex, is hammered into osition thereby straightening the convex side and forcing the locking edge of the triangle intol the locking no'tch.

My frame structure is adapted to be made up into sliding, stationary, hinged or other screens. Fig. 1 represents a sliding screen embodying my invention, and adapted to slidingly engage the guide strips 8 by means of the outer ciannels 2 and the fixed bearin s 9 and yielding bearings 10 on the two si .es respectively. This yielding bearing prei/*idee ready means ef inserting or removtllra screen freine from between the guide strip as commonlyT practiced in the art. Y

A further advantage of the triangular shape of the anchor rod lies in the fact that the space 7 provided thereby, aii'ords a ready means of securing the yielding spring bearings 10 to the inside of the channel 2; by simply inserting the free ends of the spring through the slots provided in the inner wall of the channel 2, into the said space 7.

In Fig. 5 I have shown an adaptation of my invention to hinged screens, in which case I provide a modified form of vertical frame member as shown in vertical and horizontal cross section in-Figs. 6 and 7 respectively. In this modication the outer channel 2 is made with converging sides 11 as shown in Fig. 7, which provide support `for the hinge pivots 12 and 13; and at theV saine time afford a better fitting joint between the jamb 14 and thevertical frame member adjacent to it. The pivot 13 is fixed within the channel, while the lower pivot 12 'is slidably secured within the same, inv

any suitable manner, asa spring bolt or the like. By this pivotal hinging of the screen the saine is readily attached to, and removed from the window j amb, by s imply inserting the upper fixed pivot into a suitable receptacle contained within the head of the window frame while the lower pivot 12 is drawn back; and then inserting the lower pivot into a similar receptacle contained within the sill.-

For the purpose of givin the screen cloth additional support against ateral thrust exerted upon it, by the wind or other agencies, I may provide cross frame members 15, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

It is thus clearly seen from the above description that the screen of'm novel construction embodies a number o distinct advantages; among them the extreme strength and resistance of the frame members, against any force tending to crush the same, as well as the perfect and intimate unison of the several frame members resulting in a structure indestructible for all practical purposes which is a decided improvement over the built-up sheet metal. screen frame heretofore in use, which are subject to indentations and crushing due to external forces. My construction moreover tion possesses the further advantages that some of the metal or the outer channel may be removed without materially impairing the rigidity of the frame. This is oi? ticular utility when small adjustments in size of the finished frame are necessary to correct for errors in measurement, as well as in cases Where parts of the frame must be cut away to clear obstructions on the sill, such as shutter fasteners.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In metallic screens, a `frame composed of double channelled members, including an outer guide channel and an inner screen retaining channel, said channels having a single intermediate Web common to both and 4provided with a locking-seat, and a closed triangular anchor strip Within said screen retaining channel adapted to secure the screen to the frame, the opposed functioning edges ,being acute angles and engaging a. locking seat and the screen respectively.

2. In a device of the character stated, a channel member, having a longitudinal locking seat near the top ot itsouter web, a relatively large curved lip at the top of the inner wall, metallic screen cloth bent over said lip and having its edges contained in saidchannel and an anchor of closed triangular shape in cross section the-apex of one acute angle engaging said seat and the opposed apex being positioned in the opposite corner of said channel.

43. A metallic frame for a Window screen, comprising an outer guide channel portion having outwardly, laterally extending Walls substantially U-shaped in cross section, and an inner channel portion whose outer Wall is formed by a single integral web common to both of said channels, the upper portion of the inner Wall of said Web having a longitudinally extending notch serving as seat for a screen anchoring member.

4. ln a metallic screen, a frame, comprising an outer guide channel portion having outwardly, laterally extending Walls substantially U-shaped in cross section, and an inner channel portion Whose outer Wall is formed by a single integral Web common to both of said channels, the upper portion of the inner Wall of said web having a longitudinally extending notch serving as seat for screen anchoring member; a screen cloth secured to said frame, substantially triangular anchor members Within said inner screen retaining channels positively locking said screen cloth to said metallic frame.

5. In a metallic screen, a frame comprising outer guide channel portions having outwardly, laterally extending Walls sub lsaid screen cloth to said metallic frame, said triangular anchor members having their apices in engagement with said lockingl notches, the other apices thereof clamping the contiguous portions of said screen cloth against the inner walls of said inner screen retaining channel.v

G. vIn a metallic screen, anintegral, rigid non-tubular metal frame having outer guide channels to receive guide strips, and inner screen retaining channels to receive the edgesof a screen fabric and a screen fabric retaining anchor member.

7. in a metallic screen, a frame formed from double channelled non-bendable metal rails and stiles integrally united by mitered joints and a single integral web common to the lchannels of each rail and stile.

8. In metallic screens, aframe composed of double channelled frame members, one of said frame members having the sides of its outer channel convergent; screen cloth coveringr said frame; anchor members Within the inner channels, positively locking the overlapping edges of the screen cloth to the said inner or screen retaining channels; and hinge pivots secured to the extremities of one of said frame members by the aid of said converging sides of the outer channel thereof.

ARTHUR L. OTTO.

lVitnesses C. T. OTTO,

GEORGE W. Harem.' 

